Improvement in apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating-gas



R. H. SMITH & J. GULDT HURP.

Apparatus for the Manufacture of illuminating Gas.

No. 166,645, Patented Aug.10,1875.

Ii i

m. Jv. M a y. fic Z/ W county of Allegheny and in the State of Penn-ROLAND E. SMITH AND JOSHUA GOLDTHORP, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF lLLUMlNATlNG-GAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,645, dated August10, 1875; application filed July 19, 1o75. i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, R. H. SMITH and JOSHUA GoLD'rHoRP, of Pittsburg, inthe sylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for the Manufacture ofllluminating-Gas or other gases; and dohereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof, reference being bad to the accompanying drawingsand to the letters of reference marked thereon, making a part of thisspecification.

The nature of our invention consists in the construction and arrangementof an improved apparatus for the manufacture of illuminating and othergases, as will be.l.1ereinafter more fully set forth.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which our inventionappertains to make and use the same, we will now proceed to describe itsconstruction and operation, referring to the annexed drawing, in which-Figure l is a longitudinal vertical section of our entire gas apparatus.Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the washer.

The retort of our gas apparatus is composed of two pipes, A and B,meeting so as to form a sharp angle. and having the three ends closedwith screw-plugs O or other caps, which may be bolted to flangesprovided on the pipes, the two pipes being also connected at the anglebya strengthening-web, D. These retorts may be made of cast or wroughtiron, clay, or any other suitable material; but cast-iron is thought tobe the best, and the cross-section of the same may be either round,oval, square, or of any shape that may be found most desirable. They areset so that the lower limb of the angle shall be horizontal, and theother limb may be vertical, or to one side above it. Although it ispossible to use the same retort when placed in any position obtainable,the position shown in the drawing is considered the best. This retort ismost easily adjusted in an ordinary round stove, E, as shown, but mayalso be put in cooking-stoves, ranges, and fire-places, &c. Thescrew-plugs G, or their equivalents, which close the ends of the re--tort, or the caps which may be substituted therefor, are provided withsmaller openings to through the center. In the plug in one end of thepart A of the retort is inserted the inlet-pipe b, and in the plug inthe upper end of the part B is inserted the outlet-pipe (l. The centerhole in the third plug is stopped by a screw, 0, or its equivalent.Through the inlet-pipe b the petroleum or other substance intended to beconverted into gas is introduced, the retort having been previously madered hot, and the gas produced passes by the outlet to the washer G,where it is purified, and from thence to the reservoir for use. Shouldthe retort during use become clogged with carbon and refuse, all that isnecessary to do is to remove the screw-plug c and the inlet and outletpipes, thus allowing a free circulation of air inside the retort. Thefire being kept up in the grate the carbon and refuse is gradually burntaway, leaving the retort clean and ready for further use. The retort issupported, as shown, by notches cut or cast in the body of the stove. Onthe outlet end of the retort is shown a new gas-tight joint intended toallow of the moving of the retort without the annoyance of taking withit the pipe, and also allowing the joint to be more easily made. It isconstructed as follows: d is a short piece of iron pipe inserted in theretort or plug 0 at that end, and having a slightly-angular head, whichis finished outside and inside and ground to suit the other parts, whichare also finished. The outletpipe d, communicating with the washer, ismade of iron, with the joining end finished and-ground to the interiorof the pipe d. h is a ring of gun or other non-expanding metals, fittedand ground to the exterior surface of the pipe 01, and clasping ittightly when it is in the position shown. The action of this joint is asfollows: The outlet-pipe d being introduced and jammed into the pipe d,the gun-metal ring h is drawn hard up to its position. As soon as theheat reaches the pipe cl the iron expands and tightens on the ring it,which does not expand, and thus forms a gas-tight joint. When it isdesired to disconnect the pipe, all that is necessary to do is to knockthe ring it back, thus relieving the binding, and the joint can bereadily detached and as readily rejoined. The washer G is formed of twoboxes, one inverted into the other, the inner or upper one having alongits lower edge notches or slots 00 cut out so as to allow the water thatis placed in the outer one to have free circulation into the inner one,which inner one has also a flange or rib, y, across the inside, dividingit into two compartments. This flange or rib projects into the water asufficient depth to form a seal, requiring the gas which comes from theretort to be brought into direct contact with the water. At the pointswhere the pipes 61 and f are to be connected to the washer are two cups,m at, each having an interior central tube, 8, and on the end of thepipe (Z or f is an enlarged tube, t, fitting over the central tube 8, asshown, thus forming a loose sealed joint, allowing all parts of thewasher to be readily taken apart. In each cup or seal m is a drip-tube,11, extending down into the washer for the purpose of relieving thesurface of the water with which the seals are filled, and thus relievethe pipes of the noxious refuse which naturally collects on the water,conveying it down into the interior of the main body of the washer. 1nthe body of the washer G are two vertical tubes, 1) p, with cup-heads na, one to each compartment, which pipes also take the refuse floating onthe water therein, and convey it away by the tube H. By this means allnoxious effluvia from the washer is obviated.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A retort composed of two tubes, A B, connected at an angle, andprovided with the strengthening-web D and hollow screw-plugs O,substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

2. The drip-tubes z', in combination with the seals m of the washer G,substantially for the purposes herein set forth.

3. The tubes 1), provided with cupped heads n in the bottom of thewasher G, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our handsthis 16th day of June, 187 5.

ROLAND/ H. SMITH. JOSHUA GOLDTHORP.

Witnesses:

RICHARD ALLEN, J OHN D. MORELAND.

